Coronation Street legend Barbara Knox is set to be written out of the soap, according to reports.
The Daily Mirror claim that the 75-year-old actress – famed for her role as the Kabin's shopkeeper Rita Sullivan – told soap bosses last week that she needed some time off.
This prompted the team of writers to come up with a drastic storyline to explain Rita's temporary absence after 37 years on the show.
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A Street source said: "Barbara felt bad that she had to go, but she explained it was in no way a serious health issue and that she'd be back.
"We had no option but to rewrite storylines and also shoot a scene in the Rovers Return to explain why should wouldn't be around for a while."
Knox is expected to return to the cobbled street in the autumn.